Re “College-hunt Climate can bring high-price, high-stress summers” (Page A1, March 5): I’m anadmission officer at a liberal arts college. When I do generic admission presentations, I suggest getting a summer job. I tell prospective applicants, “You’ll have an aggravating boss in your lifetime — try it on for size now.” If you want to seek a do-gooder, service experience, don’t save the whales in Japan, but find something within a bike ride of home.

I assume I’m not the only admission officer who views bought summer experiences with some cynicism. What do they tell me? You’re probably a “full pay.”